Visitor

Parking facilities dedicated to visitor and patient parking are located throughout the UNC campus. This parking provides hourly parking access to visitors and patients to the UNC campus as well as the UNC Health Care System.

Visitor parking areas on the UNC campus are: the Dogwood Deck, on Manning Drive across from UNC Healthcare facilities; the Raleigh Road Lot, on Highway NC 54, diagonally across from the School of Government; the Swain Lot (after 5 p.m. and weekends only), off Cameron Street adjacent to Ackland Art Museum; the Morehead Lot, located off Franklin Street adjacent to Morehead Planetarium, the Ambulatory Care Lot, on Mason Farm Road, next to Columbia Street and Rams Head Deck, located on Ridge Rd. near the football stadium.

Visitor parking lot hours of operation are posted at the lot entrances. Rates are $1.50 / hour. With the exception of the Rams Head Deck, employees, contract employees, and students are not eligible to park in areas designated for patients or visitors unless attending a medical appointment. Permits for employees with medical appointments may be obtained through Transportation & Parking or through a parking lot attendant. Parking is available in Rams Head for up to 24 hours at a time at the hourly rate.

Spaces may be reserved by department in the Morehead, Rams Head, or Raleigh Road lots at a rate of $14/day or $7 / half-day (leaving before noon). Reservations should be made online at least a week in advance. Reservations are also available for parking after 5:00 p.m. at a rate of $6.00 each. Full day reservations will be honored after 5:00 p.m.

The Raleigh Road Visitor Lot is located on Highway NC 54, one block east of Country Club Road. The operating hours are posted at the entrance to the lot. This lot accommodates UNC visitors attending functions on the eastern and mid-sections of campus. Overnight parking is not allowed in this lot.

Metered Parking provides visitor or short-term parking access to most areas of campus. Intended for general use, metered spaces are U.S. coin (quarters only) or debit/credit card-activated weekdays, from 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. The maximum time allowed at most meters is three hours. However, short-term meters exist where the maximum activation time is thirty minutes. Metered spaces may be restricted during Special Event operations.

The Morehead Planetarium is located just off Franklin Street, to the east of the sundial and just in front of Morehead Planetarium Building and UNC Visitor Center. This lot accommodates visitors to the northern and central campus areas. The operating hours are posted at the entrance to the lot. Overnight parking is not allowed in this lot. The Morehead Lot is often filled by 9 a.m. If you are planning to direct a visitor to park in this lot, we advise that you make sure that they allow an additional fifteen to twenty minutes for parking.

The Rams Head Deck is located on Ridge Road near the UNC Football Stadium, Alumni Center and the UNC Baseball Stadium, offering short-term parking for UNC employees and students. The lot is controlled 24 hours a day for pay parking by staff or by a combination of staff and pay stations. This lot accommodates visitors attending functions in the central part of campus or those wishing to use the dining or recreational center that is also part of the Rams Head Deck Complex.

The Swain Lot is located off Cameron Avenue, adjacent to the Hanes Art Center. Lot is reserved for NG1 permit holders only Monday - Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Visitor operating hours are posted at the entrance to the lot. Overnight parking is not allowed in this lot.

The Ambulatory Care Lot is located off Mason Farm Road, adjacent to Columbia Street. It accommodates patients and visitors to the Ambulatory Care Center. The operating hours are posted at the entrance to the lot. Employees or students with medical appointments should request a temporary permit from the booth attendant upon entering the lot. UNC employees and students are allowed to use this area for appointments only and must register for an “affiliated use” permit online or at the Public Safety building.

The Dogwood Parking Deck is located on Manning Drive, diagonally across from UNC Healthcare. An attendant or paystation is on duty at all times except on official University holidays. This deck accommodates visitors and patients at UNC Healthcare, UNC Dental School, and other medical facilities. UNC employees and students are allowed to use this deck for appointments and must register for an “affiliated use” permit at DPS offices. Vehicles over 7’ in height are limited to the spaces on the Deck’s first level.

During the hours that permits are required, a valid, properly registered parking permit must be displayed on every vehicle parked on University property. Neither notes nor hazard lights are honored in lieu of a permit.

Never park in a fire lane or a specifically reserved space such as a Disability, Service Vehicle, Reserved At All Times, Physician’s Emergency, etc.

When parked at a metered space, the meter must be activated. If a meter is not operating properly, report it immediately by calling 919-962-8006 and park in an alternate space. Be sure that you have the meter number if reporting a broken meter.

If you loan your vehicle to someone, make sure they know where to park. You are responsible for all citations issued to your vehicle.

Yellow curbs and hatch marks mean “No Parking” A number next to a yellow curb does not indicate a parking space. Parking spaces are marked by white lines and/or wheelstops.